Bijou Phillips says she could be 'gone in a few days' without a kidney transplant

Actor and model Bijou Phillips has revealed that she's "hanging on by a thread" and urgently needs a kidney transplant.

"I've needed a transplant for a year," Philips toldUs Weekly in an exclusive sit-down interview, her first in a decade.

Phillips, 45, was born with underdeveloped kidneys and received her first kidney transplant at 36. In February, the actor revealed that she was back on dialysis — a treatment that Phillips emphasized is "not a cure" and puts her at an increased risk of infection.

"I could make it on dialysis for a couple years, or I could get an infection in my line tomorrow and be gone in a few days," Phillips told Us Weekly. "I'm really hopeful, [but] it's an extremely urgent situation."

Phillipsshared on Instagramon Feb. 11 that she needed help finding a kidney and shared a questionnaire for followers who were interested in becoming a donor. Nearly 1,300 people came forward saying they wanted to get tested and see if they were a match for Phillips. Of those individuals, Phillips said 50 or 60 might be a match.

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She called the response "beautiful" and said it was important to use her platform to advocate for those with kidney disease. "I think it's useful to raise awareness, [to encourage] more people to donate into the ether. It's such a wild disease," she told Us Weekly.

In the past, Phillips said, her creative projects inspired her to keep going. Now, Phillips says she is fighting for her life for her daughter, Fianna. "I'm all she's got," Phillips said.

"Now I'm a single mom and things are different. I want to be here for her, and I have to be here for her. The fight is back. That had been gone for a long time," Phillips said.

The life-and-death situation motivated Phillips to turn to social media for help with the encouragement of her famous friends and family, like sister Mackenzie Phillips and longtime friends Nicky and Paris Hilton. "To put my health out there publicly was terrifying, but my friends and family got fed up with me. They took control and were like, 'We're doing this,'" Phillips said.

Phillips offered the rare peek into her private life following theconviction of her ex-husbandDanny Masterson, who was sentenced to 30 years to life in prison for two rape convictions. Phillips filed for divorce days later.

Phillips' team could not be immediately reached for comment.

byNito

in

March 02, 2026

Bijou Phillips says she could be 'gone in a few days' without a kidney transplant

Actor and model Bijou Phillips has revealed that she's "hanging on by a thread" and urgently needs a kidne...

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10 songs you didn’t know were written by the Beatles

The Beatles penned hit after hit, all of which demonstrated their mastery of the songwriting form. But while they racked up classic songs for themselves beyond counting, they still found the time to write songs for other musicians.

Songs you didn't know were written by the Beatles

Not everyone was aware that the song they were hearing on the radio had been written by John, Paul, George, or Ringo, especially if the song had been credited to a pseudonym. Here are some examples of songs that were recorded by other artists but dreamed up by the world's favorite Liverpudlians.

Image Credit: Wikipedia.

1. "I Wanna Be Your Man" by The Rolling Stones – 1963

Written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, this song became one of The Rolling Stones' early hits. In fact, it was such a good tune that Lennon and McCartney borrowed it back so they could record their own version of it on their 1963 sophomore album, "With the Beatles."

Image Credit: Wikipedia.

2. "Come and Get It" by Badfinger – 1969

Written and produced by Paul McCartney, this song became a top 10 hit for Badfinger, a band signed to the Beatles' Apple label. The band had several big hits of their own, so they didn't necessarily need Macca to write material for them. But hey, when you're signed to the Fab Four's label, it doesn't hurt to ask if they have potential hits lying around that they're not using.

Image Credit: Wikipedia.

3. "Bad to Me" by Billy J. Kramer With the Dakotas –1963

"Bad to Me" was written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney for British pop singer Billy J. Kramer. His recording of the song topped the U.K. charts. It was covered by other artists, most notably Graham Parker, but the Beatles themselves never took a crack at it. The only known Beatle-adjacent recording of "Bad to Me" emerged in 2013 on iTunes in the form of a John Lennon demo that was part of the compilation, "The Beatles Bootleg Recordings 1963."

Image Credit: Wikipedia.

4. "Love of the Loved" by Cilla Black –1963

"Love of the Loved" is a song credited to John Lennon and Paul McCartney and was recorded as part of their unsuccessful audition sessions for Decca Records. While that recording was never officially released by the Beatles, pop singer Cilla Black recorded the song and got a top 40 U.K. chart hit out of it.

Image Credit: Wikipedia.

5. "Step Inside Love" by Cilla Black –1968

Five years after "Love of the Loved," Cilla Black's career had progressed to the point where she had her own musical television show, simply called "Cilla." For its theme, another Lennon-McCartney composition was used, "Step Inside Love." The Beatles recorded the song during sessions for their 1968 self-titled album, but it didn't see an official release until its inclusion on the "Anthology 3" compilation in 1996.

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Image Credit: Wikipedia.

6. "A World Without Love" by Peter and Gordon –1964

"A World Without Love" was a U.K. chart-topper for the pop duo Peter and Gordon. Despite being credited to "Lennon-McCartney," it was written solely by a teenaged Paul McCartney. While it was a hit for Peter and Gordon, the Beatles never recorded it themselves as its author didn't think it was good enough for the band.

Image Credit: Wikipedia.

7. "Woman" by Peter and Gordon –1966

Perhaps because he and the pop duo Peter and Gordon had been successful with "A World Without Love," Paul McCartney wrote "Woman" under the pseudonym "Bernard Webb." He wanted to know if the song could still become a hit on its own merits rather than on the famous "Lennon-McCartney" songwriting credit. The ruse collapsed pretty quickly, and the song eventually peaked at number 14 on Billboard Hot 100.

Image Credit: Wikipedia.

8. "Goodbye" by Mary Hopkin –1969

Folk singer Mary Hopkin recorded this Lennon-McCartney song in 1969 and it quickly skyrocketed up the charts. Sadly, it could never get past the number two spot on the U.K. singles chart, as there was a song firmly lodged there. The song was another Lennon-McCartney single, "Get Back."

Image Credit: Wikipedia.

9. "Sour Milk Sea" by Jackie Lomax –1968

Written by George Harrison, this song was taped by singer Jackie Lomax, who recorded for the Beatles' Apple label. Harrison plays guitar on it, and both Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr appear on it as well. Even with all of that going for "Sour Milk Sea", it failed to meet sales expectations and is considered a disappointment. That's a shame, because the song itself is a banger that deserved to be a hit.

Image Credit: Wikipedia.

10. "Badge" by Cream –1969

Featuring Eric Clapton on guitar, Cream was a massively successful British supergroup whose members had all the talent in the world. However, the band couldn't stand each other personally, leading them to break up after two extremely tumultuous years. George Harrison co-wrote "Badge" with Clapton and it appeared on their aptly named final album, "Goodbye."

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byNito

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March 02, 2026

10 songs you didn’t know were written by the Beatles

The Beatles penned hit after hit, all of which demonstrated their mastery of the songwriting form. But while they racked...

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Hezbollah attacks Israel, prompting Israeli strikes and Lebanese criticism

By Laila Bassam, Yomna Ehab, Nayera Abdallah and Steven Scheer

Smoke rises after Israeli strikes in Beirut's southern suburbs

BEIRUT/JERUSALEM, March 2 (Reuters) - Hezbollah attacked Israel on Monday to avenge the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, prompting Israeli strikes on Beirut and setting the group at odds with Lebanese leaders who want ‌the country kept out of a regional war.

Israeli strikes on the Hezbollah-controlled southern Beirut suburbs and southern Lebanon killed 31 people, Lebanon's health ministry ‌reported. People fled the southern suburbs on foot and by car, clogging the roads. More than a dozen powerful explosions shook the capital starting around 2:40 a.m. (0040 GMT).

The violence widened the conflict ​that has spread through the Middle East since the United States and Israel attacked Iran on Saturday. Hezbollah, a Shi'ite Muslim group established by Iran's Revolutionary Guards in 1982, is one of Tehran's principal allies in the Middle East.

Israel held Hezbollah responsible for the escalation, after the group said it had fired rockets and drones to avenge "the pure blood" of Khamenei and in response to what it described as repeated Israeli attacks.

The Israeli military said no injuries or damage were reported in Israel.

Hezbollah's attack ‌was its first on Israel since a war in ⁠2024, while Israel's strikes on the southern suburbs were the heaviest since that conflict.

"Hezbollah opened a campaign against Israel overnight, and is fully responsible for any escalation," Israeli Chief of the General Staff Eyal Zamir said in a statement.

"We must prepare for ⁠many prolonged days of combat ahead," he said in a later statement, saying Israel had launched an offensive campaign against Hezbollah.

LEBANESE STATE OFFICIALS CRITICISE ATTACK ON ISRAEL

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the Israeli attacks but also warned against Lebanon being used as a platform for wars "we have nothing to do with", saying it would "expose our nation once more ​to ​dangers".

"This is something the state will not allow to be repeated and will not accept," ​said Aoun, whose administration has adopted a policy aimed at Hezbollah's ‌disarmament since taking office with U.S. support a year ago.

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Lebanese state media reported that the public prosecutor had ordered security forces to immediately arrest those who fired the rockets at Israel, after a phone call from Lebanese Justice Minister Adel Nassar.

Hezbollah's arms have long been a point of division in Lebanon - a country that was shattered by civil war from 1975-1990 - and demands for the group to disarm have intensified since the 2024 war with Israel.

The group emerged from that war greatly weakened, with its leader Hassan Nasrallah killed along with thousands of its fighters.

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said launching rockets from Lebanon was irresponsible and jeopardized ‌Lebanon's security.

EVACUATION WARNINGS

The initial wave of strikes was followed by a warning from Israel ordering ​residents of dozens of villages in southern and eastern Lebanon to evacuate.

The Israeli military said ​it struck Hezbollah targets across Lebanon, including senior Hezbollah members in the ​Beirut area.

Hezbollah said its attack had targeted an Israeli military missile defence facility south of the city of Haifa. The Israeli ‌military said several projectiles that crossed from Lebanon fell in ​open areas and one was intercepted by ​the Israeli air force.

Since a U.S.-backed ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon in 2024, Israel has carried out regular strikes against what it has identified as Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, accusing the group of seeking to rearm.

This was Israel's first attack on the southern suburbs since it killed the group's ​military official Ali Tabtabai in November.

Lebanon's presidency said on ‌Saturday it had been told by the U.S. ambassador that Israel would not escalate against Lebanon as long as there are no hostile ​acts from the Lebanese side.

(Reporting by Laila Bassam in Beirut, Jana Choukeir in Dubai; Yomna Ehab and Nayera Abdallah in Cairo; Writing ​by Nayera Abdallah and Tom Perry; Editing by Bill Berkrot and Michael Perry)

byNito

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March 02, 2026

Hezbollah attacks Israel, prompting Israeli strikes and Lebanese criticism

By Laila Bassam, Yomna Ehab, Nayera Abdallah and Steven Scheer Smoke rises after Israeli strikes in Beirut...

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Taylor Swift’s Key Role in FIFA World Cup 2026 Gets a Special Mention

Taylor Swifthas boosted confidence in theFIFA World Cup 2026. The prestigious soccer tournament will begin in June at the SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. Recently, Inglewood's Mayor James Butts Jr showcased his optimism for the upcoming event. He stated how he isn't nervous about the event thanks to Swift and Beyoncé.

Taylor Swift's concerts were key to preparing for FIFA World Cup 2026, says Inglewood mayor

In his interview with TMZ, Mayor James Butts Jr shared how Taylor Swift's popularity gives him strong hopes for the FIFA World Cup 2026. He stated how federal presence will be added to Inglewood's "robust public safety matrix." The politician reflected how he is confident in the place, thanks to the "Bad Blood" singer hosting her concerts over the years. Besides Swift, he mentioned the craze of Beyoncé's shows in Inglewood.

Swift performed at the SoFi Stadium during her Eras Tour in 2023. She enjoyed a successful run with bumper sales and smooth operation. Meanwhile, the "Crazy in Love" singer also had a memorable night with her Cowboy Carter Tour. Mayor Butts hopes the audience will have a great time watching the football game, as they did at Swift and Beyoncé's shows. "I want them to continue to view it as they do now — the sports entertainment capital of the western United States," he said.

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The 72-year-old added, "We want to maintain neighborhood integrity." Talking about Swift's concerts in Inglewood, the Grammy Award-winning singer had a historic six-day run. The SoFi Stadium shows ended the 2023 U.S. leg of her Eras Tour. The shows also featured openers, including HAIM and Gracie Abrams. Swift received an eight-minute standing ovation from the crowd following her performance of "Champagne Problems."

The pop icon was overwhelmed with love as she said, "What do I say to you after that? That was so deeply abnormal and beautiful. I don't know what to do or say." She also shared, "I'm never gonna forget it. Thank you. That was crazy. That's such a — what are you doing? People have emotions. You're playing with them right now. I love you so much."

The postTaylor Swift's Key Role in FIFA World Cup 2026 Gets a Special Mentionappeared first onReality Tea.

byNito

in

March 01, 2026

Taylor Swift’s Key Role in FIFA World Cup 2026 Gets a Special Mention

Taylor Swifthas boosted confidence in theFIFA World Cup 2026. The prestigious soccer tournament will begin in June at the SoFi Stadium in ...

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Myanmar's military government pardons 10,000 prisoners before parliament opens

BANGKOK (AP) — The head of Myanmar's military government granted amnesty to more than 10,000 prisoners and reduced the sentences of others to mark a holiday, state-run media reported Monday.

There was no sign former leaderAung San Suu Kyi, who was ousted in the military takeover in 2021 and has been held virtually incommunicado since then, would be freed.

The amnesty comes two weeks before parliament isset to convenefor its first session in more than five years following the recent election that critics said was neither free nor fair.

State-run MRTV television reported that Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, the head of the military government, pardoned 10,162 prisoners, including 7,337 convicted under a counterterrorism law, on Peasants' Day, a national holiday honoring farmers.

A separate statement said 12,487 people who were either being prosecuted under that law or were in hiding, will receive amnesty and have their incitement cases closed.

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The law carries a potential death penalty and was widely used to arrest and imprison political opponents, journalists, and others involved in dissent since the 2021 army takeover.

Ten foreigners will also be released and deported from Myanmar, it said in a separate statement.

Mass amnesties to mark holidays are not unusual in Myanmar. The prisoner releases began Monday but may take a few days. The identities of those released were not immediately available.

According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, an independent organization that keeps detailed tallies of arrests and casualties linked to the nation's political conflicts, more than 22,800 political detainees were in detention as of last Friday.

They include the 80-year-old Suu Kyi, who is serving a 27-year sentence after being convicted in what supporters have called politically tinged prosecutions.

byNito

in

March 01, 2026

Myanmar's military government pardons 10,000 prisoners before parliament opens

BANGKOK (AP) — The head of Myanmar's military government granted amnesty to more than 10,000 prisoners and reduced t...

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